TWIST

Composed for Symphonic Wind Band. Grade 5. 
Commissioned for the Australian National Band and Orchestra's Conference by ABODAQ 2012.

"Twist is simply a tour de force, which must be experienced to be truly appreciated. 

 

Blackshaw evokes a form of expression in the ensemble that I’ve never experienced before. Whether it is the laugh of a Kookaburra, or the indescribable beauty of the mouth of the Murray River, Twist will compel everyone involved to think about Wind Band music in a new & authentic way.

 

I highly recommend it."

 

Vaughn Fleischfresser, University of Edinburgh, Scotland​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Photos by Jenny Bailey & Christopher Blackshaw

See

the score

...and other great information at C. Alan Publications

Hear the piece

Where do

I buy it?

My favourite recording: Dr. John Lynch with the Sydney Conservatorium Wind Symphony

Kookaburra Cadenza & Argentinian Tango - be inspired!

Trumpet Cadenza 2

Melbourne Symphonic Winds

MYM Festival 2013

Jemima Bunn conducting

Trumpet Cadenza 1

Queensland Wind Orchestra

ANBOC12

Dr. Lewes Peddell conducting

Bush Soundscape

When I was in primary school my family enjoyed two houseboat holidays on the Murray River. My whole family remember these holidays as some of the happiest days we spent together.  I especially loved that time at the end of the day when we had moored the houseboat and lit a fire. I would sit on a chair by the fire and just curl up and become consumed by the warmth of the fire and the sound of the bush surrounding me. When I think of it now, I can still hear the bush and feel the warm glow of the fire. 

 

I share this personal memory and photograph to highlight the beauty of the "bush symphony"; this is what I hope is achieved at Rehearsal marking 'O' in this piece. 

Check out these percussion instruments and use them in your soundscape as well as other sounds listed in the score!

Kokiriko

 

Ching Chok

 

Cricket

Frog Rasp

 

Gecko Clacker

 

Large Guiro

 Click on the picture above to listen to an example of a Bush Soundscape by artist "Listening Earth"

To create the soundscape, invite all players with "Bush soundscape" marked in their parts to select a sound that makes a contribution. Invite the players to listen to the audio link to understand that intermittent, random sounds over the top of the constant whirring and buzzing of the shaker ring will bring together an inspiring bush symphony that underpins the Soprano Saxophone solo.